Patent Application
20070131752
Dispensing cartons are known. Such cartons typically have a top panel formed from flaps that are separable to open the top of the carton. The contents of the carton can then be dispensed from the open carton top. Such cartons, however, typically are not easily closed once opened, and may not provide for easy dispensing of the carton contents. One solution to this problem is to include a pivotable dispenser that can be opened for dispensing the carton contents and then closed for storage. Conventional pivotable dispensers, however, may be difficult to open and/or to place in a dispensing configuration. Many conventional dispensers also require a metal or plastic insert spout piece to form the dispensing portion of the carton, which may increase costs and/or complexity of manufacture.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a carton comprises a first side panel, a first end panel, a second side panel, a second end panel, a bottom panel and a top panel. The top panel comprises a first end top flap, a first side top flap overlying the first end top flap and having an aperture formed therein, and a second side top flap overlying the first side top flap. The first end top flap is adhered to the underside of the second side top flap through the aperture in the first side top flap. A plurality of lines of disruption in the second side top flap define in part a pivotable dispenser in the top panel.
The pivotable dispenser may be placed in a dispensing configuration by breaching the plurality of lines of disruption in the second side top flap and pulling the dispenser open. An access flap can be defined in the dispenser to allow a user to insert a finger into the top panel and thereby access the dispenser. Accessing and opening the dispenser can be performed using a relatively simple motion.
According to a second aspect of the invention, the first end top flap can include a spout section having wing portions. The wing portions can engage inside edges of the aperture in the first side top flap to secure the dispenser in the dispensing configuration. Locking cuts may be formed in the top panel in which the wing portions can be removably engaged to further secure the dispenser in the dispensing configuration. The dispenser can be closed by pressing the dispenser back into the top panel.
According to a third aspect of the invention, the spout dispenser can be formed from the top flaps of the carton such that no additional inserts or pieces etc. are required.
Other aspects, features, and details of the present invention can be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims.
According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the invention.
The present invention generally relates to dispensing or pour features for cartons. The present invention can be used, for example, in cartons that contain articles or other products such as, for example, food and beverages. The articles can also include particulate products such as, for example, rice, beans, sugar, and other pourable dry products. In this specification, the relative terms “bottom,” “side,” “end,” and “top” may indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected and upright cartons.
The first side panel 10 is foldably connected to a first side top flap 12 and a first side bottom flap 14. The first end panel 20 is foldably connected to a first end top flap 22 and a first end bottom flap 24. The second side panel 30 is foldably connected to a second side top flap 32 and a second side bottom flap 34. The second end panel 40 is foldably connected to a second end top flap 42 and a second end bottom flap 44. The top flaps 12, 22, 32, 42 extend along a first or top marginal portion of the blank 8, and may be foldably connected along a first longitudinal fold line 62. The bottom flaps 14, 24, 34, 44 extend along a second or bottom marginal portion of the blank 8, and may be foldably connected along a second longitudinal fold line 64. The longitudinal fold lines 62, 64 may be straight fold lines, or may be offset at one or more locations to account for, for example, blank thickness. When the carton 190 is erected, the top flaps 12, 22, 32, 42 close a first or top opening of the carton 190, and the bottom flaps 14, 24, 34, 44 close a second or bottom opening of the carton 190.
A spout dispenser pattern 100 is formed in the blank 8. According to an aspect of the invention, the spout dispenser pattern 100 includes lines of disruption formed in the first side top flap 12, the first end top flap 22, and the second side top flap 32. The spout dispenser pattern 100 defines the pivotable spout dispenser 160 in the erected carton 190 (
Referring to
In the first top end flap 22, a pair of dogleg-shaped cut-crease lines 128 (e.g., fold lines) extend from a distal end of the flap 22 to the first longitudinal fold line 62. A longitudinally extending cut-crease fold line 130 extends through a medial portion of the first top end flap 22 and across the cut-crease lines 128. The lines 128, 130 define a central portion 120, first and second wing portions 122, and a base 124 in the first end top flap 22. The central portion 120 is foldably connected to the base 124 at the fold line 130. At the first end top flap 22, the longitudinal fold line 62 can include a cut-crease section 132.
In the second side top flap 32, a spout section 138 is defined by a plurality of lines of disruption. The spout section 138 includes a central spout portion 140 and first and second wing portions 142 defined by dogleg-shaped interior side cut-crease lines 148 (e.g., fold lines), spaced exterior side cut-space lines 149 (e.g., tear lines), and a laterally extending end fold line 152. An access flap 144 is defined by an arcuate cut-space line 145 (e.g., tear line) connecting the side cut-space lines 149 and a lateral fold line 150. Oblique locking cuts 154 extend outwardly from the exterior side cut-space lines 149.
The lines 128, 130, 148 may be formed from, for example, cut-crease lines having 100% cuts (i.e., cuts that extend through the entire blank) in
An exemplary process of erecting the carton 190 will be discussed with reference to
In order to close the top of the carton, adhesive is applied to the exterior side of the first end top flap 22 between the dogleg shaped cut-crease lines 128 and/or to the interior or underside of the spout section 138 of the second side top flap 32, between the dogleg shaped interior side cut-crease lines 148. Adhesive may also be applied to the underside of part of or the entirety of the exterior side of the first side top flap 12 except in the area of the shoulders 118. Alternatively or in addition to adhesive applied to the first side top flap 12, adhesive may be applied to the entirety of or part of the underside of the second side top flap 32 outside of the area defined by the lines 145, 149, 152, and so that the shoulders 118 are not adhered to the second side top flap 32. Adhesive may be applied to the entirety of or part of the upper surface of the second end top flap 42.
The top flaps 12, 22, 32, 42 may be closed by folding the first and second end top flaps 22, 42 down as shown in
The second side top flap 32 is folded over the first side top flap 12 so that the flap 32 overlies the flap 12. The underside of the second side top flap 32 may be adhered to the exterior or upper side of the first side top flap 12 in areas outside of the spout section 138. The upper or exterior side of the central portion 120 may be adhered to the underside of the central spout portion 140 of the second side top flap 32 through the aperture 110.
The bottom flaps 14, 24, 34, 44 may then be folded and adhered together to close the bottom of the carton. The resultant carton 190 is illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
According to the above-described embodiments, cartons can be provided with dispensers that are simple in construction, and that are easily opened and reclosed. The carton provides a relatively simple, one-step action for opening and dispensing product from the carton. The spout dispenser is formed from the top flaps of the carton and no additional inserts or pieces are required.
In the exemplary embodiment discussed above, the blank is formed from clay coated newsprint (CCN). In general, the blank may be constructed of paperboard, having a caliper of at least about 14, so that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blank, and thus the carton, can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carton to function at least generally as described above.
The first and second sides of the blank can be coated with, for example, a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, and other information or images. The blank may then be coated with a varnish to protect any information printed on the blank. The blank may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blanks. The blank can also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, a fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening or disruption in a blank that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present invention, fold lines include: score lines, creases, cuts that extend partially into a material along a desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, and various combinations of these features.
For purposes of the description presented herein, the term “line of disruption” can be used to generally refer to either a cut line, a crease line, a tear line, or a fold line formed in the material (or a combination of at least one cut line, tear line, fold line, etc.). A breachable line of disruption is a line of disruption that is intended to be breached during ordinary use of the carton. An example of a breachable line of disruption is a tear line.
A tear line can be any form of weakening that facilitates tearing therealong. Specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present invention, tear lines include: a cut that extends partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, or various combinations of these features.
The term “line” as used herein includes not only straight lines, but also other types of lines such as curved, curvilinear or angularly displaced lines.
The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together by glue. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure paperboard carton panels in place.
In the present specification, a “panel” or “flap” need not be flat or otherwise planar. A “panel” or “flap” can, for example, comprise a plurality of interconnected generally flat or planar sections.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that while the present invention has been discussed above with reference to preferred embodiments, various additions, modifications, and variations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60749889 | Dec 2005 | US |
